Garment support



Feb. 22, 1938.

5. EACH GARMENT SUPPORT Filed Dec. 6, 1935 ENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 22, 1938 UNITED STATES FATE? 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a novel type of elastic arrangement which is particularly suitable for use in the waist line of pajamas, or the like, which is durable in use, which can be washed a great number of times without deterioration, which can be manufactured cheaply and without difliculties in large quantities. Many proposals have heretofore been made with these general propositions in view, but they have suffered from one defect or another. For instance, where an elastic belt is sewn to the article of clothing by means of an elastic seam, there is a tendency for the elastic to break loose. Where a strip of elastic passes through one or more openings in the garment, it has become twisted while worn or during laundering, so that it is uncomfortable and otherwise less effective. Other proposals have involved uneven distribution of the elasticity, with consequent disadvantages,

This invention has for its principal object the provision of a superior elastic device of the character indicated, which avoids these disadvantages, and which involves'a full and uniform distribution of the elastic, a flat, comfortable and effective band, and a device of this character which is not only simple and inexpensive to manufacture but which is also made especially durable through the particular manner of attaching the elastic band to the garment.

A feature of the present invention accordingly resides in the provision of an elastic arrangement of this type in which the elastic is simply attached to the garment by means which are not readily visible, with the elastic secured to the garment in stretched condition and in such manner that when the garment itself is fully extended the elastic material is stretched to only a small portion of its elastic capacity.

A further feature of the present invention lies in securing a relatively wide band of elastic material to the garment in such a manner that the elastic will be maintained fiat, so that it cannot roll or turn, and that the pressure is evenly distributed substantially around the full girth of the wearer.

An additional feature of the present invention lies in providing an elastic arrangement of the character mentioned in which the elastic, while possibly extending completely around the wearer, may stop a few inches short of opposite edges of the garment which are to be buttoned together, thus allowing room for the buttons and button holes without interfering with the elastic action.

A particular feature of the invention consists in fastening a piece of elastic material, in partly stretched condition, to the cloth adjacent the edge or hem of the garment, by a plurality of spaced rows of stitching, and in then folding over the elastic and the material to which it is attached, to form a pocket for the elastic, the folded over edge or hem of the cloth or substantially inelastic material being connected to the main part of the article by stitching which does not engage the elastic. In this manner, the elastic insert is free to act, the elasticity is evenly distributed, and the elastic is held fiat. Incidentally, the threads which hold the elastic do not show on the outside of the article and the elastic itself is not visible.

Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will in part be pointed out and in part become apparent in connection with the following detailed description of one form of an arrangement illustrating the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the waist of a pair of pajamas including the elastic means;

Fig. 2 is a plan View showing the first step in the manufacture;

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the second step, partly in section;

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are sections on enlarged scale as indicated;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing a slightly modified form of elastic device.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, the O edge of a piece of material I0 may, if desired, be folded in and-suitably stitched as at H to form a hem. In the form illustrated, the upper portion of the material forms the waist band of a pair of pajama trousers. However, it will be appreciated that the present arrangement is suitable for other purposes, such as in the wrist bands of sleeves, cuffs of trousers, and other places Where an elastic fit is desired. A strip of elastic 12, in partly stretched condition, preferably to less than about one-third of its maximum elasticity, may then be laid upon the material and stitched to it as indicated at [3, by a series of spaced rows of stitching which may preferably extend transversely of the elastic fabric and which is desirably of the lock stitch variety, as best indicated in Fig. 4. The elastic material preferably has a substantial width, for instance, two-fifths to one and a half inches, depending upon the particular location of the elastic in the garment, and is advantageously composed of a series of strands of elastic such as rubber wound with yarn.

The elastic preferably extends along substanof the elastic may also be limited to a definite tially the full girth of the garment, and may form a complete circle for the slip-over type garment as shown in Fig. '7, but where buttons l6 and button holes I5 are employed, as indicated in Fig. 3, the elastic preferably terminates two or three inches inward of the edges of the garment.

The elastic band I2 is preferably located a short distance inwardly of the edge or hem of the garment so as to leave room for securing this edge or hem to the rest of the material of the garment through stitching M which is free and clear of the elastic, or, in other words, does not attach the elastic to the cloth.

In this manner, the elastic insertion reaches around almost all of the body with the exception of the frontal closing part of two or three inches which enables two buttons to be employed for adjustment for different sizes. Moreover, the elastic insertion can be stretched equally throughout any portion of its entire length, so that a uniform stretching is achieved throughout substantially the entire girth. At the same time, even if one of the individual seamsshould besome loose, there will still be a suflicient number of seams left to preserve the desired result. In order to maintain the elastic flat and to secure the other advantages indicated, it is desirable to secure the elastic at its two ends and at at least three intermediate points, evenly spaced. However; in: some circumstances, it may be advisable to. apply. a greater or lesser number of lines of stitching. At the same time, the points at which the elastic insertis shown should not be spaced so far apart that the various individual sections of the elasticv can twist or turn over in normal use.

It may be advantageous to form a small loop I! attached to the nether garment so that it can be hooked over a button on the upper garment for holding the same in packed position as shown in the drawing.v

It will. be appreciated that by extending the stitches 13 substantially completely across the width of the elastic material, and by spacing these stitches as described, the elastic material is at one and the same time maintained fiat and allowed to. stretch evenly throughout its entire length.

It is particularly advantageous to employ an elastic band. which is so arranged that when the inelastic material is expanded to its full length, the elastic material is stretched to only a small fraction of its maximum stretch. Preferably, the

elastic should be of such character and so arranged that when attached to the edge of the material with the latter extended full out, the elastic is only stretched to about a third to a half of. its length in'fully stretched condition. It will be appreciated that when elastic strands wound with inelastic material are employed, the stretch amount by the character of the yarn with which the elastic is wound.

According to the present invention, there is thus provided a particularly simple and eifective waistband of elastic for pajama trousers, cufis of jackets, and the like, for it will be appreciated that it might be applied to the other garments, in which the elastic lies flat, in which the elastic is evenly secured by stitching across the same at a plurality of points adjacent the hem of the garment so that the whole stretches evenly substantially throughout the full girth, and in which the elastic is durable, simple to apply and free from the possibility of breaking loose and thus causing annoyance.

The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that. various modifications-are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

I claim:

1. In alower garment having a waistband, a

continuous hem formed in a piece of material adjacent the upper edge thereof, a relatively wide flat stripof. elastic material extending along the major portion of the hem but terminating short ofeither-end thereof, a plurality of spaced rows 5 of stitching, two of which are adjacent the end of the'elastic band, extending transversely of the band and securing the same to the garment adjacent the hem, with a narrow portion of the hem lying outside the band, the attachment between said gar-ment material and elastic strip being such that. the'elastic stripis stretched to a fraction of its elasticity when the garment material is stretched out to its'limit and said band and hem being folded over and stitched to the garment by a row of stitching along the length of the hem but not extendingthrough the band, said band of elastic material lying inside a pocket thus formed and being-free of stitching to the outside of the pocket, andmeans-tobutton one end of the hem I to the other.

2. In a garment of the character described, a relatively wide flat elastic band secured within the hem of the garment at a plurality of spaced points by rows of. stitching extending transversely of the elastic band, two of said rows of stitching lying. adjacent the ends of the elastic band and spaced: from. the ends of the material, the attachment of said garment material and elastic strip being such that the elastic strip is stretched to a fraction of its elasticity when the garment material isstretched out to its limit, said band and hem being folded over and said hem being secured tothe inside of the garment through stitching which does not pass through the elastic.

SIEGFRIED EACH. 

